TBR Football can exclusively confirm the latest around West Ham United and their interest in Manchester City forward Jack Grealish.
The Hammers’ transfer activity is starting to pick up pace, having signed Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf from Sparta Prague just this week.
Diouf is West Ham’s third signing of the summer, after Jean-Clair Todibo and Daniel Cummings.
Graham Potter has embarked on his first pre-season with West Ham and he’ll be eager to stamp his mark on the team, both in training and in the market.
TBR Football can also confirm which other clubs are interested in Grealish alongside the Hammers.
Jack Grealish during a Premier League match for Manchester City.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
West Ham enquire about Jack Grealish with Graham Potter open to signing England star
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can reveal that West Ham have made enquiries about Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.
Grealish has been informed by City that he can leave the club this summer, and his representatives and intermediaries have been working hard on options.
Every potential landing spot in England has been discussed, and there has been interest from potential suitors.
The likes of Tottenham, Newcastle and former club Aston Villa have expressed an interest, but no offers have been made.
We can now reveal that Graham Potter is open to the prospect of bringing the 29-year-old to the London Stadium.
A deal would require City to enable a switch, which would mean a likely loan with options.
They would need to cover a large portion of his considerable wages – Grealish is currently the highest-paid English player in the Premier League.
There is interest on the continent with AC Milan – but their plans have altered somewhat following the return of Max Allegri.
We can confirm that Como, under Cesc Fabregas, have also made enquiries.
READ MORE: After El Hadji Malick Diouf, West Ham now think they can sign £50m Liverpool player as well
Carlton Cole has already delivered Jack Grealish to West Ham verdict
Former West Ham forward Carlton Cole recently spoke about the prospect of Grealish joining West Ham.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cole said he would love the Hammers to sign Grealish – but on one condition.
“He’s got to go and play, man!” Cole said in June, as per Hammers News.
“He’s not in the Club World Cup squad, so that’s a big sign. It’s been told to him [that he has no future at Man City]. It’s been done.
“Spain? Italy? We’ve seen players go to Italy and thrive. You look at someone like Napoli. [But] I just think he’s a bit of a homeboy.
“Come to West Ham, mate! Yeah, we’ll have him.”
Cole then added: “You see, with Jack Grealish, the way I’ve seen him play football, he needs a team geared up to him.
“You’ve got to have freedom on the pitch, and there are not many teams who play that style these days.
“At Villa, he had a free reign. He could do what he wanted.
“The way football has gone now, and how it’s structured, he had to shave off a bit of his game to suit Man City’s style and he became a percentage player.
“Winning fouls. Getting free-kicks. He’s better than that but that’s what he was reduced to.
“I want him to be free again. He’s a maverick! He gets bums off seats, he’s a nice cute player so I’d like to see him get back to that.”